The qualities talent managers look for to fill entry-level jobs include enthusiasm, passion and determination, said Cheryl Woodcock, who recruits for ITV’s entertainment shows.

“Do your homework, make sure your CV has no typos in it,” added Tracy Walker, a talent executive at ITV Studios North.

“I love having a nose at what people have done, if I’ve got the time, when someone puts a showreel on their CV,” said Woodcock.

But don’t put your own picture on the CV, said the panel as one.

And, stressed Rosalind Malthouse, a talent manager at Multistory Media: “You don’t need to be able to shoot or edit to get a job in TV… Soft, people skills are also really useful.”

A degree, even in film and TV production, is not a pre-requisite for a career in telly. “At entry level, it doesn’t really matter what degree you have, as long as you know why you’re approaching us,” said Nikki Ryan, Malthouse’s colleague at Multistory Media, which is part of ITV Studios.

She added: “The more experience you have on your CV, the more employable you are.”

But, said Malthouse, CVs should be no longer than two pages. 

She added: “The competition is so fierce to get in. I’m only looking for people who want to make the programmes we make, rather than someone who’s desperate to get their foot in the door and get any job in any genre.”

“Trying to get your foot in the door anywhere is really tough at the moment,” said Woodcock. “Cut yourself a bit of slack – you may not progress as quickly as you might have done had Covid not happened.”

The RTS Futures webinar, “ITV talent manager Q&A”, was held on 8 July. It was chaired by Rachel Hatton and produced by Alex Wootten.